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Florida A&M's athletic department on Thursday confirmed the NCAA has lifted the APR-related sanctions on the men's basketball program.

FAMU's men's team has been banned from the postseason since the 2014 season. The team will be eligible for the 2016-17 postseason. In May of 2015, the NCAA announced FAMU would be placed under Level 3 sanctions, which included a reduction in games to go with the postseason ban.

“I’m ecstatic for out student-athletes and Coach Samuels," Athletic Director Milton Overton said in a statement. "‘Building Champions’ is our charge, and now we will have an opportunity to work towards a championship goal for the 2016-17 academic year.

"This could not have been possible without the support of president (Elmira) Mangum and her staff. The administrative support allowed this to be successful, while assisting in the building of a championship academic culture at FAMU. The is a positive step toward our mission of building champions in the classroom, on the field and in life.”

Also, the school revealed the football program will have full spring practice again for the 2017 season. FAMU's football team will be without spring practice for this season and isn't eligible for the postseason.

Overton said the improved academic performance of basketball team garnered positive reviews from the NCAA. Head coach Byron Samuels was informed of the NCAA's decision while FAMU was traveling back from a road game against Howard in Washington, D.C.

Samuels came to the program prior to the 2014-15 season and was charged with building a team after coach Clemon Johnson was fired and every player transferred. He went 2-27 in his first season but has repeatedly said the Rattlers are "a work in progress."

The Rattlers are far more competitive this year. The team is 8-19 overall and 4-10 in MEAC play. The Rattlers have a scoring margin of minus-9.1, but it's a vast improvement over last year's minus-17.5 differential.

Overall, the men's basketball program has seen gains, even when it comes to fan attendance. Saturday, a season-high 6,211 fans came out to FAMU's game against arch-rival Bethune-Cookman.

“We are thankful that for the great news that the APR ban has been lifted from our Men's Basketball Program,” Samuels said. “There are so many people to thank. First and foremost, I want to thank our University Administration and Athletics Administration. A major thumbs up also goes to our academic advisor and our academic support staff and tutors.”

Samuels continued, “Most of all I want to thank our basketball student athletes who've proven themselves in the classroom, and who committed to FAMU and our basketball program during this rebuilding stage. I am especially proud of two graduating seniors, (forward) Mario Karailiev and (guard) Jerran Foster, for their leadership example.”